Spring Holiday

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This article is about the use of a secular term in North America for the Easter holidays, which occur in Spring in the northern hemisphere. For the seasonal vacation time, see Spring break.

Spring Holiday is a generic North American term sometimes used in place of Easter or Good Friday. Sometimes, "spring" or just "holiday" will replace Easter with combinations such as "The Spring Bunny" and "Spring Eggs."

This term is used primarily in the United States. The use of the term is controversial, as some Christians argue it is being used to avoid recognition of, or to secularize, a religious holiday.[1] Supporters of the term argue that its use is an attempt to include non-Christians who may not celebrate the holiday in question, or to enforce a separation of Church and state.[2]

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[edit] Usage

The term "Spring Holiday" has been used by universities,[3] grade schools,[4] government offices,[5][6][7] and public media.[8] In 1999, in Bridenbaugh v. O'Bannon, an Indiana state employee sued the governor over giving state employees Good Friday as a day off. The US Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the plaintiff, citing, in part, that referring to Good Friday as "Spring Holiday" was evidence of a secular purpose and therefore not unconstitutional.[2][9]

While the term is often used to replace the name of Easter, some institutions use it for a springtime vacation that does not necessarily fall on a religious holiday, and others have attempted to include the Jewish holiday of Passover in their Spring Break.[10]

[edit] Controversy

Some Christians view the use of this term as part of, or as an expansion of, the secularization of Christian holidays[1] and claim that renaming this Christian holiday is an overzealous application of political correctness. After Good Friday and Christmas Day were replaced with "spring holiday" and "winter holiday" on the city calendar for Greencastle, Indiana, approximately 200 people protested against the name change, some by singing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" at the council chambers. City councilman Mark Hammer said, during a meeting, “I believe this was political correctness run amok. When we use the terms ’winter holiday’ and ’spring holiday,’ we’re not being inclusive, we’re being exclusive.”[11]

As recently as the mid-2000s, some retailers and government establishments have renamed and relabeled the secular aspects of the Easter holiday, including the popular mythological Easter Bunny, even though these secular aspects—and the word "Easter" itself—are not necessarily associated with Jesus or Christianity. These secular events and traditions are still celebrated, only with the term "Spring" replacing "Easter." This alternative generic terminology includes "Holiday Bunny," "The Bunny," "Children's Egg-Hunt" and "Holiday Eggstravaganza."[12]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Is Easter latest holiday hijack?. WorldNetDaily (2006). Retrieved on 2006-06-02.
  2. ^ a b Supreme Court Supports lower ruling, Good Friday closings. American Atheists (2000). Retrieved on 2006-04-14.
  3. ^ CY 2005 – CY 2006 Holiday and Administrative Closing Schedules (pdf). Memo to President's Staff from Vice President for Administration and Finance. University of Tennessee (2004). Retrieved on 2006-04-12.
  4. ^ Children's University Spring Holiday. Children's University - Arlington, Texas (2006). Retrieved on 2006-04-14.
  5. ^ Town of Chapel Hill - Spring Holiday Service Schedule. Town of Chapel Hill - Town Council (2006). Retrieved on 2006-04-12.
  6. ^ Village of Cottage Grove Spring 2006 Newsletter (pdf). Village of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin (2006). Retrieved on 2006-04-12.
  7. ^ City offices will close April 14 for spring holiday. News and Public Notices. City of Irving, Texas (2006). Retrieved on 2006-04-12.
  8. ^ Interpreter Training Club; Calendar of Events, Spring 2006. Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, North Carolina (2006). Retrieved on 2006-04-12.
  9. ^ Robinson, B.A. (2000). Religious holidays and the US Government. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Retrieved on 2006-04-14.
  10. ^ Report and Recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Academic Calendar and Religious Observances Adopted by the Faculty Senate 7 February 1983 (pdf). University of Wisconsin - Madison (1983). Retrieved on 2006-05-17.
  11. ^ Christmas back on city's calendar. IndyStar (2005). Retrieved on 2006-06-28.
  12. ^ Sunset Zoo's holiday Eggstravaganza. Kansas State Collegian (2006). Retrieved on 2006-06-28.

[edit] External links